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she allowed him to say he loved another, or could not love, that would lie between them. What was unspoken was easier to forget. |
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"It does not matter," she said briskly. "Now I have you safe, that is all that is of importance. I still say you were a fool to ride with a knee like that." |
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She went to get a pair of shears with which to slit open his chausses. The knee was awful, hugely swollen and darkly discolored. Ian looked at it ruefully. |
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"But it was almost down to normal this morning," he said. "I intended to ride in tomorrow. It is only that we rode too far, I think." |
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"Too far? Did you not come from the northwest farm?" |
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"No. Did I forget to tell you that there were a pair of sly weasels who, too cowardly to seize what they desired, were exacting tribute on the pretense they could keep the reavers away? I had told the bailiff of the Long Acres to seize them, and he sent word they were taken. I set out for the Long Acres before your messenger came, and he followed mewhich is one reason everything was so delayed. Those two are for hanging, I think. I brought them and sent them into prison in the town. I was sure you would have no room for prisoners here. By the by, what did you do with Sir Guy?" |
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"Took him into service. Is that not what you expected me to do? What else could I do with such an honest fool? I have sent him into hiding. You heard his tale, did you not? I feared one of our guests might know his face." |
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While she was speaking, Alinor had set a basin below Ian's knee, placed a thick pad over it, and trickled the cold water onto the pad. Ian sighed with relief and closed his eyes. He had been right to trust her judgment in Sir Guy's case. This marriage would be perfect, if only Well, she had not allowed him to finish when he started to tell her how long he had loved her, but she |
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